Gerald Ghislain and Magali Senequier of French niche line Histoires de Parfums have launched The Scent of Departure, "a new collectable line of perfumes dedicated to bring back home one’s unforgettable trip". Fourteen fragrances make up the initial launch; each is named for the airport code letters of the city that it represents: Paris (CDG), London (LHR), Milan (MIL), New York (NYC), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), Dubai (DXB), Abu Dhabi (AUH), Doha (DOH), Singapore (SIN), Tokyo (TYO), Hong-Kong (HKG), Seoul (ICN) and Bali (DPS).
On the back of each bottle, a narrative paragraph carries the reader to an enchanted and aromatic journey, leading them to discover - or rediscover - what best a city has to offer: from the sun kissed mandarin and fresh lemon sparkle whiffs over Ayung River in Bali to the floral and fruity scents of a sun-drenched summer day in Central Park not to mention the sun fruits and white florals surrounding The Duomo…
MIL MILANO ~ "This sweet oriental transports you to the fashion capital of the world. Grace the cobble stones of the Quadrilatero d'Oro as an effortless layer of sensual spices suffuses the senses. The Duomo cathedral is surrounded by sun fruits and white florals. Mesmerized by the breathtaking view of the Last Supper, sweet notes of chocolate, remind you of yummy gelato you had earlier today."
LHR LONDON ~ "Take a stroll down Hyde Park, a garden created by past Kings and Queens. An invigorating bouquet of pines and leaves wrapped in citrusy fruits remind you of warm Earl Grey tea. An aquatic freesia accord dressed in lotus petals dance down the Serpentine Lake as a Shakespearean jasmine unveils a romance of mossy woods and white musk for a final wink at the London Eye."
CDG PARIS ~ "Early morning in the Tuileries Garden. The soft air is filled with the charming scent of white flowers and green crispy leaves. In a ray of morning sun, you silently walk under the lime trees and delight in the soothing trail of the rose garden. You look up to the Palais du Louvre glistening under the first sunbeams, behind you the Champs Elysée. All the magic of Paris."
LAX LOS ANGELES ~ "Welcome to Hollywood! Where stars are born and dreams come true. A fresh breeze of grapefruit and plum take you down Rodeo Drive for a glamorous appeal. Chic yet subtle notes of jasmine and gardenia dance on the Walk of Fame for an addictive heart that pulsates into the night at LA Live. Luxurious santal and amber are wrapped in musk for an edgy twist because this city is no angel."
NYC NEW YORK ~ "A lovely sunny day in the Big Apple City. The air is filled with the scents of lilac and rose from the vast and majestic Central Park. You are walking along Times Square under the mild and fresh breeze from New York harbour. Enjoy this modern, crisp and invigorating fragrance with sparkling and sourish notes of apple."
MIA MIAMI ~ "The sun glistens over Ocean Drive, invigorating the senses. A cocktail of warm citrus notes playfully sparkle over the waters of South Beach as warm amber hues dance the night away at the famous Mango’s night club. Your sun kissed skin never felt so good. Fun and spontaneous moments make you feel confident and beautiful, full of life, and ready to take on the world! You just can't wait to come back."
DOH DOHA ~ "In a majestic gesture of oriental dance, the sparkling scents of the lemon and the yellow tangerine remind us of an elegant movement towards the sky, Doha reveals a precious olfactory show: a spicy bouquet with jasmine and rose accords merge the opulent and the sensual, like the pearl of the Qatar."
DXB DUBAI ~ "Futuristic architecture, opulent malls and fascinating life are all a part of this cosmopolitan atmosphere. An intense rose essence from Burj Khalifa is wrapped in light and fresh citrusy accords found on the Jumeirah beach. Your adrenaline surges as you sand ski in the desert and marvel peacefully at the hypnotizing skyline at night. A final extravagant blend of Oud encapsulates this diverse and vibrant city."
AUH ABU DHABI ~ "Intrinsically rich with culture, dazzling Abu Dhabi is an extraordinary fusion of antiquity and modernity. The hustle and bustle of this city is wrapped within luxurious sky-scrapers that overlook the sparkling Arabian Gulf. A brilliant layer of bergamot is felt at the pristine beachfront of Yas Island and like the breathtaking, multi-faceted Saadiyat; light notes of jasmine are enriched by an unforgettable deep trail of amber."
SIN SINGAPORE ~ "A graceful sunrise over Singapore. You wander through the virgin Rainforest and in the Botanic Garden, while breathing the tender air refreshened by a touch of lime and orchids. You smell the soft symphony of the dew-kissed and freshly cut grass as you pass by the imperial bonzaï trees. Feel the perfect accord of the delightful floral and warm woody scents..."
TYO TOKYO ~ "Embark on an adventure through a city with cutting edge technology and vibrant energy. From afar you can see the Tokyo Tower, a treasure in the midst of invigorating citrus splashes wrapped in a green stem. The Shinjuku Gyoen leads you to an endless field of lotus, freesias and ozonic peonies, creating a light and fresh heart. Meiji Jingu and Asakusa Shrines trail with white musk, a lasting impression of Japan."
ICN SEOUL ~ "The miracle of the Han opens with green notes from the dewy leaves that run through the valley on the Cheonggye Stream. Wander into Gwanghwamun and the statue of King Sejong the Great greets you with a peaceful and transparent floral heart. Tour the N Seoul Tower and gaze at the sea of lights as The Moonlight Rainbow Fountain turns the city into a galaxy of twinkling stars."
HKG HONG KONG ~ "Hop on The Peak and revel in the breathtaking panoramas of the skyline. Towering skyscrapers, lush green valleys and secluded beaches are all a part of this stunning city. In the Lantan Island, The Giant Buddha is surrounded by an array of roses, violets and lilies. A spontaneous layer of fresh fruity accords take you to the Victoria Harbor for a magnificent symphony of lights fused with a fizzy lemon and dazzling pears."
DPS BALI ~ "Bali, a mysterious oasis filled with majestic temples and pristine reefs. Like ceremonial art form, sun kissed mandarin and fresh lemon sparkle over the Ayung River. A beautiful bouquet of delicate white florals emerges deep within an amber- wooded layer reminiscent of the mystic Ubud village. The final touches of creamy vanilla bring you back to Nusa Dua, as if you had never left."
The Scent of Departure fragrances are $45 for 50 ml Eau de Toilette.
(via press release)
Well, I’m impressed with how good interpreted are these based on their names. The only but is that they sound very feminine…
Most of them do, but hard to tell w/o smelling them.
These look interesting…and some might even be worth trying. I wish there was a travel spray (9 mL) set of all because, well, these have a travel theme.
“NYC” is such a misleading Airport Code because it is not one airport, but rather the combination of Newark Liberty, LaGuardia and JFK. And Apple for New York? — too cliched! I wonder how they would bottle eau de oil refinery?
As to the Big Buddha in Hong Kong, I associate it more with incense rather than roses, violets and lilies. I have to admit that it was an amazing sight to behold (and the lush surroundings a surprise) after the hustle and bustle of HK Central. Also, the copy has a typo – Lantau Island (not Lantan Island).
Did not even notice the NYC or the typo, good eye!
I assume they wound up calling it NYC so as to not favor one airport over another. Agree it is awkward.
“You are walking along Times Square under the mild and fresh breeze from New York harbour.” Beg pardon?
Yeah the New York one is totally arbitrary, in every way possible. JFK is the obvious choice, as its the most internationally used, but that’s not the only thing that is general and uninteresting about this fragrance… Not that any of them seem too amazing, I usually like this line but too many releases, they can’t all be great.
Where they can be found??
I know they’re going to sell them on their website:
http://www.thescentofdeparture.com/
And I think they’re trying to get them in airports.
Oh, and just happened to read elsewhere that in mid-May they’ll be at Henri Bendel, Harvey Nichols (London), Rinascente (Milan), 10 Corso Como (Seoul).
Too bad neither of these is close to me. Maybe it’s the high time to save some money for a plane ticked and traveller shopping?
Why not 😉
Very fond of their 1969! Not sure I’m up for trekking through another collection of 14 (!) samples to find out if there is one that I really want, though.
It’s an awful lot. I’d certainly try one if I saw it in an airport.
Nozknoz, this one, 1969 is the one that is comming with my discovery sets. If you want I can give you my personal detailed review via email.
These look really fun especially for the size and price. But agreed that a coffret with little sprays of each would be great for layering and exploring. But I’m just happy with the cost and relatively small sizes of them. Yay. 🙂
It’s not a bad price, agree!
These were on display at the Elements Show – and honestly – I thought they were going to be in the $150 price range.. they smell of that quality. They may sound feminine but a majority felt unisex.
Probably just as well that this global tour omits Sioux City, Iowa (SUX).
*snicker* I was just wondering what they’d say Des Moines smelled like!
Got the airport code for New York from where? LaGuardia is LGA, Newark is EWR and JFK is, well JFK. I’m having a hard time just making it through the samples I already have. Think I will just skip these.
These sound fun. TYO Tokyo sounds like they’re describing my childhood home. Having said that, when I first went back to Tokyo at the age of 7 after spending a few years in the UK, and started primary school, the first thing I noticed in the classroom was the smell of pickled daikon and processed ham. I must have smelt what the other children had for breakfast! My thought was, “Japanese school smells funny”. And the first thought I had when I started primary school in the UK was “English school smells like baked beans”!
I really, REALLY like HdP and Gerald Ghislain… but for a minute there, I thought I’d strayed into Eau Prix Faux territory.
Sorry, I meant Prix Eau Faux.
The airport codes MIL, TYO and NYC do not exist.
Milan Malprensa is MXP
Tokyo Narita is NRT
New York can be JFK or LGA or even EWR for Newark if need be.
This line is a tad confusing or lacks market research I have to say.
Love the “used” luggage tag look with bar codes though!
That irks me. If you wanna do something do it right.
You are walking along Times Square under the mild and fresh breeze from New York harbour.
LOL!!!!!!!!!!! That’s NOT what you smell in Times Square!!
the descriptions and notes are so generic and repetitive, all 14 of these literally sound like the same scent!
I tried LA, Miami, Vienna, Milano and Istanbul. LA and Miami were nice enough but forgettable. Vienna reminded me of a thinner Prada Candy. Istanbul was a disappointment but probably because I had high hopes based on the list of notes. Its still pretty and foody but notthing exciting. The unexpected hit was Milano – reminded me a lot of Traversee.
Thanks so much!